OROVILLE — Decades after an overlook gave a view of construction of Oroville Dam, a project to improve the abandoned area is almost finished.

Started last April, the project known as the Upper Overlook Trail and Day Use Area is located about 50 feet above the dam in the closed parking lot at the corner of Canyon Drive and Royal Oaks Drive.

It's one of two side-by-side projects the state Department of Water Resources currently has under way at the dam, said Water Resources engineer Matt Murray in a phone interview Monday.

Construction of a ramada and concrete work are nearing completion at the Upper Overlook Trail project. Part of the work included laying an asphalt trail down to the dam.

Murray said a handrail will also be installed around the overlook area to protect the slope and make it safe for the public.

Although a DWR engineer said last July that the project would eventually include 100 new parking spaces, Murray indicated that plan has been altered.

"There is limited parking now due to previous complaints received from locals in Kelly Ridge," he said.

The overlook is historically the one used when the dam was built in the 1960s. It was closed off with barriers about 11 years ago due to problems with vandals and other issues.

Murray said they will be extending some existing parking areas by removing the temporary traffic barriers, or K-rails, to add more room, "but we're not putting a parking lot in."

Plans also call for installing some picnic tables under the ramada and planter boxes, and a later phase of the project will include trail lighting.

Last July, a DWR official anticipated the overlook project would be finished by November, but Murray said Monday that a full crew wasn't always available to do the work.

While the Upper Overlook work has been going on, California Conservation Corps crews have begun another project in the area, removing hazardous wildfire fuels on 17 acres. Murray said that project has just started, and two acres have been done.

The brush project is on the east side of Canyon Drive, from Royal Oaks to just past the dam. Murray said it's a high-priority area because of the risk to property owners in a fire.

Brush under the overlook, which hampered views of the lake and dam last July, has already been cleared.

"You can see blue water ... it's all opened up," he said. "It allows for great view of Lake Oroville and Oroville Dam."

The fuel-reduction project began in November. Murray said they hope to finish it within six months, but that will also depend on the availability of Conservation Corps labor and of funds. Murray said they're looking for grants.

Both projects are under the settlement agreement in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission relicensing of Oroville Dam, which hasn't been completed yet.

Murray said officials are hopeful everyone will be happy with the overlook when it's finished.

"We're trying to do the best we can to make something people will use, that will have some resiliency and is well appreciated," he said.

Staff writer Barbara Arrigoni can be reached at 533-3136, barrigoni@orovillemr.com, or on Twitter @OMRBarbara.